Opioid Companies, Distributors Seek Gag Order in Ohio

A group of opioid manufacturers and distributors filed for a gag order against Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and two other prominent attorneys in connection with multidistrict opioid litigation.

The defendants, including Cardinal Health, Endo, Amerisource Bergen and Purdue, filed their motion on Jan. 4 in the Northern District Ohio, Eastern Division, before Judge Dan Aaron Polster, who is overseeing multidistrict litigation against opioid manufacturers.

DeWine, who was elected governor in November, gave a wide-ranging interview to “60 Minutes” that aired in December.  The motion for a gag order alleges DeWine and attorneys Mike Moore and Burton LeBlanc conspired to use misleading and inflammatory pronouncements to taint potential jury pools.